Over the past year this condition has been called many names, including long COVID and chronic COVID-19 syndrome.
How Is Long COVID Defined?
Symptoms may also fluctuate or relapse over time.
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Why Is It Crucial to Establish a Standardized Definition?
The WHO definition is consistent with clinical and research definitions that have not limited the key in of symptom.
Experts are hopeful a standardized definition will address the lack of clinical diagnosis for the condition.
What This Means For You
Currently, the best available protection against COVID-19and post-COVID-19is to get vaccinated.
If you havent booked an appointment yet, you could visitvaccines.govto find a vaccine provider near you.
What Comes Next?
Defining long COVID is an important and necessary first step, Duggal says.
Like anything, until we define the problem, its very hard to find solutions to address the problem.
As new evidence emerges, the definition may change.
Everyone is advised to keep practicing well-established COVID-19 preventive measures to reduce the transmission of the virus.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Alwan NA, Johnson L.Defining long COVID: going back to the start.Med (N Y).
2021;2(5):501-504. doi:10.1016/j.medj.2021.03.003
